Common Idioms about Transport and Travel

1. Jump on the bandwagon

• Meaning: If a person or organization jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable.
• E.g. I can’t stand these people who just jump on the bandwagon after a win.

2. In the same boat

• Meaning: If two or more parties are in the same boat, they are in the same unpleasant or difficult situation.
• E.g. My sister failed her driver’s test, and I’ll be in the same boat if I don’t practice parallel parking.

3. Miss the boat

• Meaning: If you miss the boat, you fail to take advantage of an opportunity because you don’t act quickly enough.
• E.g. If you think you can do that, you have just missed the boat.

4. (Not) rock the boat

• Meaning: To do or say something that might endanger astable situation or upset the status quo
• E.g.  None of my family members are fighting with each other right now, so please don’t rock the boat by bringing up politics or any other controversial topics.

5. Paddle one’s own canoe

• Meaning: To be able to act independently.
• E.g. Now that you’re 30, people expect you to paddle your own canoe—you can’t just live with your parents forever.

6. Put the cart before the horse

• Meaning: To do things out of the proper order.
• E.g. If you put the cart before the horse and pick out your dream car before you have any money saved up for a down payment, you’ll just end up disappointed.

7. Drive a hard bargain

• Meaning: To arrange a transaction so that it benefits oneself.
• E.g. Sal is known to drive a hard bargain, so I doubt you’ll get that car for the price you want.

8. Backseat driver

• Meaning: A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver is called a backseat driver.
• E.g. John quickly became annoyed at Mary’s tendency to become a backseat driver whenever he drove her somewhere, so he just began to let her drive.

9. Highways and byways

• Meaning: You take large and small roads to visit every part of the country.
• E.g. The city council voted to plant new trees along all the highways and byways of the town.

10. My way or the highway

• Meaning: If you do not do things the way I want or require, then you can just leave or not participate.
• E.g. I’m here to create the best musicians in the world, so in this room, it’s my way or the highway!

11. Hit the road

• Meaning: To leave
• E.g. We better hit the road before traffic get seven worse.

12. On the home stretch

• Meaning: You are approaching the end of a task, a project, a race or a journey.
• E.g.  Ten exams done and two more to do — you’re on the home straight now.

13. Itchy feet

• Meaning: A person who has itchy feet is someone who finds it difficult to stay in one place and likes to travel and discover new places.
• E.g. I hated living in London, and I started getting itchy feet.

Idioms about Transport and Travel | Image